Comedian Steve Coogan’s rare Jaguar up for sale

This Jaguar was one of the first right-hand-drive E-Type’s produced. Photo: Silverstone Auctions

A very exciting Jaguar E-Type is to be offered for sale at the forthcoming Silverstone Classic live online auction from the highly desirable collection of British TV actor and comedian Steve Coogan.

The Jaguar E-Type is one of the first 92 right-hand-drive cars produced and one of the 56 used by the dealers as demonstration cars. This E-Type was the first one that went to Scotland in July 1961, to Jaguar Edinburgh. The dealers were forbidden to sell these cars until September of that year.

On September 8, 1961 chassis number #62 was registered to its first owner in North Berwick who kept the car until 1978 when it was sold to its second owner in Edinburgh. It was later sold to its third Scottish owner in Fife and returned to Edinburgh for its fourth owner. By spending much of its time in Scotland #62 kept a very low profile.

The Jaguar E-Type underwent a total restoration in 2017, including the interior. Photo: Silverstone Auctions

In 2016 Silverstone Auctions sold the car to Coogan, aka Alan Partridge, to add to the actor’s collection of classic cars.

During #62’s lifetime it had undergone some restoration but in 2017 XK Engineering were commissioned to carry out a full nut and bolt restoration of this very rare and early flat floor E-Type. This project was to take two years and was fully documented by Classic Cars magazine.

Most importantly this rare early E-Type still retained its matching body, engine and cylinder head as well as Moss gearbox. The detail of this car didn’t stop there, it still had its full flat floor, split throttle linkage, rear view mirror, bonnet louvres and the all-important outside bonnet latches. These unique features make this car stand out as one of these very early cars.

The 1961 Jaguar E-Type still has its original engine. Photo: Silverstone Auctions

The restoration process was to the highest standards possible, it could be described as forensic the level of detail that went into it. It was finished in its original colour of Sherwood Green with a green leather interior and French Grey roof.

As a result of this detail, the car has a Jaguar Heritage Certificate and now the genuine concours winning British icon is up for sale at auction for estimated at £300,000 to £350,000 (NZ$570,000-$670,000)

Silverstone Auctions Managing Director, Nick Whale, said: “Where do I start, this really is a fabulous car of the highest quality. The history that accompanies it is just perfect, the restoration speaks for itself and has been fully documented. Steve has kept this car in pristine condition in his own personal collection.”

“This is a very special opportunity to own one of the earliest and rarest of Jaguar E-Types with the external bonnet locks. A real collector’s car.”

The E-Type will go to auction on July 31.

The rare E-Type has a Jaguar Heritage Certificate. Photo: Silverstone Auctions